Acanthus

Dad loved puzzles. It was the one constant in his life. Working through crosswords and sudokus, he would often mouth answers and clues to himself, laughing at particularly good hints. In the midst of puzzle-solving, the only time he ever emerged from his study was to share a rousing success or deeply-held thought about his current predicament. His eyes would gleam with cleverness and curiosity all at once as he talked—rambled, rather—at whoever was closest. Haru enjoyed listening to him, because it was one of the few ways she could get Dad to talk to her. Or at least at her. * * * Ac

Despite the humble exterior, the house boasted an impressive panoply of rooms. A brief sweep of the house revealed six in all: The entrance hall, the kitchen, the bedroom, the study, the living room, and the lantern room. Acanthus found another passage in the lantern room, locked by a four digit code. She idled away some time trying sequential numbers. 0000. 0001. 0002. 0003. “Brute force is always an option, but it is a clumsy one. Unbecoming for a gifted mind such as yours.” She dropped the padlocked gift with tears in her eyes. Her mom gently rubbed dad’s shoulders. “Honey, she’s

The exterior oak door had a few gouges that raised Acanthus’s hackles. The marks were about the size of a human hand but cut too deeply for human strength. Acanthus drew botan and cracked the door open cautiously with the tip of the blade. The door opened with a whisper and a stale gust of air made her blink. She quietly peered inside. A resounding <<BLING>> made her yell and stumble backwards into the mud. Frustrated, she stood, wiped herself off, and looked at the dialogue box that had appeared. Quest located. <<To Shine a Light.>> Accept? Y/N She almos

When Acanthus first took in the form of the far away tower, her mind scrambled to identify it. Given the distances and darkness, she struggled to give it a size. The muted sounds of the sea told her that it stood upon the coast, and the bright flashes signaled a need for assistance. Or a warning to stay away, even. Perhaps it was the start to a quest, or a clue to finding the labyrinth. As she got closer, it dawned on her; the obelisk was in fact a lighthouse. No wonder it took her so long to recognize the thing. A lighthouse had no place on a floor devoid of both life and light. Such an

But she craved the solitude. Day after day her inbox piled up. Customers needing crafts. New players needing quests. Old players just wanting to catch up. Each thing was a small ask, but as the small asks piled up, it became too much for her. So she turned off her notifications, and disappeared into the wilds of Floor 29. She debated sending a message to let someone know where she went, just in case she didn’t return. But if she didn’t return, they could piece it out themselves. There wasn’t a need to risk uninvited guests. Acanthus trudged over the next hill, discontent in her thoughts.

Acanthus listened intently to Hirru’s questions. They were good questions. One she shared, personally. <<How much of this is the blade, and how much of this is the person.>> She looked down at botan, swirling with energy. <<An honest question. It’s ridiculous to assume that everyone here turned into a master swordsman overnight. The items and such we use shape the way we fight, and Cardinal shapes our fights through the items we wear. Even as Cardinal binds us, it guides us.>> She hated how reverent her last words sounded out loud. Acanthus prepared for another com

Another healing beam, and Acanthus scowled. Hirru was locked into his little game. <<I don’t care who we bore. I’m here to win, and if that means finishing you as the starting whistle for next week blows, then that’s how it is.>> Acanthus casually swiped through Hirru’s form a few more times. <<I’ll admit, I could have done a little more preparation. My luck with Vigilon lured me into a false sense of security. Frankly, I decided you weren’t worth spending coins on. But if I could go back and spend a few more, I’d nip your persistent little tricks right in the bud.>> Sh

<<Really.>> Her flat voice tinged with amusement and frustration equally. <<Your solution is to wait me out? Patience wins only when there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, *hunter*>> Her voice dripped sarcasm on the last word. Acanthus walked calmly towards the hunter like some mundane quest objective. About two meters away, she gauged the distance again, taking a few steps back for the perfect distance. And she took her time, slowly shuffling her feet back into a comfortable pouncing stance. What was he going to do, attack? Botan’s light grew green and sic

Link to Quest “I can’t tell if I don’t know you anymore, or if I never knew you to begin with.” A shaking hand over scraps of paper, delicately rearranged to spell a simple phrase. I love you too. — The mires of Floor 29 gulped down whatever weight rested above them. Ruins, bodies, and players alike were dragged underneath the mud with each washing rain. Only the players had the energy to resist its subsuming call. Wrenching her boot from the ground, the floor made a terrible sucking sound in protest. Acanthus wondered what the hell she was doing out here. Sear

The surrounding despair worked its way through the coliseum. It assailed her senses with familiar feelings from the grove, and from floor 13. And from the Bandit Camp on floor nine. For a moment, Acanthus became uncertain of herself. Fighting was a bad idea. She was still uncomfortable from her display last week. She’d attacked a player in a blind battle fury. And here she was, indulging that kind of combat all over again. No, this is nothing like floor nine. I’m in control of my emotions now. Breaking from the tendrils of madness, she rushed Hirru. She cut through his defenses in tw

It didn’t make sense. She had struggled with the reality of this world for so long. And just when she was coming to terms with its artificial nature, Ryoji showed up. How could this place be fake when she recognized someone else who was real? Her thoughts became awash in a sea of memories. They’d taken in Ryoji after the accident. And in return, he had learned how to cook and excelled at it. Dinners in the Masuda house had become less of a dull, soulless affair after Ryoji had joined them. “No, Nymoria. Please stay.” She collected her thoughts, uncertain of how to proceed. She initially p

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“Oh, Star Wars. I know Star Wars.” Two furious matriarchs stomped out of the darkness and howled at the sight of their ruined nests. Acanthus drew her sword as an afterthought. “My brother loves Star Wars. The Empire Strikes Back was his favorite—something about those big reveals appeals to him. Especially when it’s something dramatic, like a long lost family member.” She loosened Lama Sabacthani from her belt as she glanced at the rest of the party. “Please cover your ears. There’s no mechanical detriment if you’re not my target, but it is an unpleasant song nonetheless.” With a firm, one-han

Initiative. 242552 | CD 7 LD 18 | No madness. No audience this time. Perfect. Her face muscles sagged into a relaxed position, lending to a “default character creation” kind of face. No audience meant no performance, meant that she could focus on the important thing—winning. She recognized her opponent from the recent floor boss. Hirru, the green hunter, stood a ready opponent. Support build or not, Acanthus was wary; she had no doubt his skills extended beyond healing. She mentally prepared herself for an unconventional battle. The unconventional setting helped with that. A cos

I know too well what that can do. An ominous end to their conversation. Acanthus wondered if it had something to do with her extended absence, but she was too tired to push the topic. It’s not torture. And if it is, it’s not something I enjoy. It’s a necessary evil, and if I have to break a few fake arms to save myself and my friends… Nymoria would have done the same. Ryo interrupted with a loud shout. He was intent on feeding them, and the shops that carried his cooking ingredients closed soon. Can't he just buy ingredients in stacks of 99? isn't not like they spoil here. But she wa

Her anger was getting the better of her. If she didn’t calm down, she would lose. But Vigilon proved a difficult opponent. He never stayed in place for long, and his attacks methodically tested her defense. It was only a matter of time before he found his opening and struck again. Fallen magic danced around his blade, leaving Acanthus extra wary. Her fight with Jomei had taught her the magic could cut through any armor. Vigilon was on the move again. Carefully, she kept her angle of attack and distance. Acanthus wanted to make sure he would not get the opening he needed. Then, sharp buzze

Playing to his strengths, Vigilon kept maneuvering outside and away from her sword arts. One fight was all it took for her to see the weaknesses of less mobility. Deadly strikes turned to glancing blows as she continued her assault. Then, with a fluid move, Vigilon spun around, kicking up dust and debris, forcing her back. Her eyes darted around the cloud, picking out any movement she could. Then, a glimmer of steel, low in the cloud, alerted her to his presence. “I’ve got you,” she muttered. Summoning the sword art, she prepared another combo with confidence. But when she parted the dust clou

Buying the following items: Teleport Crystals x10 Name Tag x10 Immolation Potion T4 x20 Total: (800 * 10) + (2500 * 10) + (1200 * 20) = 57,000 col

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Acanthus relaxed after the introductions. “I already owe you for botan. Hunting down a few field bosses seems like an adequate trade. If anything, I still owe you. This sword has been a literal lifesaver.” Acanthus plucked the spyglass from her belt and gave it an experimental twirl. “We should be able to find the boss fairly quickly after each fight. I’m here for as long as you need me.” NIGHT and Oscar were ready to go, and sped off almost immediately. Acanthus panted, falling steadily behind. Was it the armor that was slowing her down, or were they both marathon runners in real li

Smashing a crystal for healing, Vigilon counterattacked, his blade alight with a familiar glow. Acanthus hunkered down for the impending strike. Similar to Jomei’s blade last week. F— The unholy light wrenched her shield aside and seared her vision with flames. Debuff icons peppered her HUD one by one. And I was about to close it out, she thought miserably. Instead, she would have to fall back. The Forgotten King’s Authority shed her stun, and she withdrew to catch her breath. “Good hit,” she said from behind her shield. “But you’ll need a few more to take me down.” She wished that s

Acanthus dove back into the fight, eager to wrap things up quickly. The traps could make or break this fight, and Minako and Kindling had hidden them too well to uncover them with a glance. She was halfway in the air before it registered that she had not been paying attention. The lump she had seen in the ground had not been a small bit of sand, but was instead a concussive landmine. Her health dipped as she sailed back to the ground. She did her best to roll with the momentum, but her heavy armor made it difficult for the adroit movements she typically used. Her roll was less “graceful a

The stun still clung to Vigilon as she approached. Acanthus was tempted to try and wear down his defenses with a shatter or two, before she remembered how that had gone in her fight with Jomei. She would need to remain vigilant; her energy bar would be just as important as her health. A quick fight was ideal, but a longer fight would enable her persistent build to thrive. Steady healing and damage would hopefully chip away at her opponent, even as she stopped to recover. Botan glowed with a hungry light, and she set the blade loose on Vigilon. She scored a few hits as the stun slowly wore

She dispatched four more bandits with a detached efficiency, but Nymoria’s shock caused Acanthus some alarm. “I—they aren’t real,” she repeated simply. “Code or not. Darkness? Nymoria, it’s not—” Not important right now, she thought to herself. But the look in her friend’s eyes said otherwise. Straining to find a diplomatic answer, she responded. “I won’t do it again. And we can talk about it more when we make it back to town. But I’m going to prioritize our safety, even if that means exploring some options that make you uncomfortable.” She hoped Nymoria would ignore her dance around the simpl